INDUSTRY TACTICS with FRIENDLY RICH

A wonderful interview with bassist and film composer Bret Higgins. We discuss his newest recording Scoring the Unseen (Boomba Records) and his great career in music. Bret is taking a big swing with this ambitious recording, and we discuss what it takes to keep progressing as a musician in 2026. Enjoy!

Aki Takahashi is a force! She came to Canada in 1995 and has built up a remarkable community of artists and collaborators. Aki is an instrumental member of the Nagata Shachu and also records under the artist name Ten Ten. She just released a new recording, HORI DASHI. Get into it and this inspiring interview with the great, Aki Takahashi.

Such a lovely chat with used bookstore owner and music venue proprietor Peter Sellers. Since 2015, he's been running Toronto's most interesting spot for catching live music, Sellers & Newel. We get into where the idea came from, and what's he's learned along the way. Get into it!

Alex Wroten is on the podcast today, as we anticipate part three of his "Gatekeepers Trilogy", the third recording "Diary of a Teenage Prophet" releases this Friday April 17, 2026. Alex’s expertise spans various styles, instruments, outboard gear and creative technology platforms. The New York Times called his “Mosaic” percussion duet, an “absorbing premiere” that “glistens as it seems to rotate,...

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

A 7-episoode podcast serial written and produced by Canadian duo of writer/performer Cory McCallum (Olde, Pant City) and composer Friendly Rich Marsella (The Tom Green Show). This first season welcomes you in to the strange hamlet of Boringville.

Get a sneak peak listen to some of the tracks from Nash the Slash Covered, a new compilation recording that honours the great Canadian musician, Nash the Slash. We talk with Brian Poole, Ian Blurton, Ronley Teper, Andy Cowan, Eiyn Sof, Colin Brunton, Tim Kowalski, Dave Clark, Tim Posgate, Eric Warner, Alex Wroten and Walter Robotka about the amazing legacy of Nash the Slash. The new compilation re...

Such an inspiring look at the rich career of composer Gayle Young. Gayle has worn many hats in the creative world, from author, editor of Musicworks Magazine, sound sculptor and more, we learn alot in this special episode of Industry Tactics.

RIP Jeff Burke -- I am so sad to see you leave us. We are bassoonless. Jeff Burke was a beautiful soul, a true original, and giant among us. I mean, he played the bassoon and Theremin! I remember asking Bob Wiseman: "Do you know any bassoon players in town?" ...and the rest is a rich history. I'm forever grateful to Bob for helping forge that connection, and to Jeff for every musical adventure we...

A lovely chat with oboist Caitlin Broms-Jacobs of the trio TACAMIS. Caitlin is joined by Tracy Wright (English horn) and Allen Harrington (bassoon) on this stellar new recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations (Leaf Music), as arranged by Broms-Jacobs. We discuss the Canadian classical music scene, music education and much more. Dig in!

So great to stroll down memory lane with an old label mate, Wollo, aka László Bertholini. We talk about those early days on Hazelwood Records, touring in Europe, and also the inner workings of The Great Bertholinis. With a new EP "The Eye of the Beholder" just released, we discuss this recording and reuniting with his pals. So many deep thoughts in this talk, buckle up, we're gonna re-crash the Ha...

What a deep discussion with Royal Wood, we discuss his music education, contemplations of leaving music, only to bounce back with one of his finest recordings yet, Dear John. A heartfelt interview with one of Canada's finest recording artists, enjoy!

What an inspiring chat with Pulitzer-prize winning composer and musician, Raven Chacon. We unpack his recent piece, Tiguex, where he worked with hundreds of musicians from Albuquerque New Mexico in performing a piece that took all day, and spanned across various locations in the city, from hot air balloon to volcano! An amazing chat, we talk Guelph, Postcommodity, bird calls, and so much more! Pre...

We chat with Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics about their upcoming double vinyl release, The Great Lakes Suite, out later this week! This new recording features 18 tracks of primarily improvised music and spoken word, performed by longtime members Dave Bidini, Dave Clark, Don Kerr, and Tim Vesely, with newer additions Kevin Hearn and Hugh Marsh, alongside legendary guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush. Wh...

We get into beard growth, streaming fun, how to last in a band for almost two decades and more. Zach Sutton recently finished an MBA and is putting all his lived experience and knowledge to good use, as the drummer and manager of Jane's Party, he's a loyal, sweet human and he brought the LA sunshine to this delightful interview.

We dig deep into the brain of Lazar Miric, talking everything from video game music to venues and mentorship in music. A wise human, doing it primarily himself and making a real impact on the Canadian music scene. He heads up Lavender Town and Live Video Game Orchestra, and is a working musician in Toronto. A warm welcome to Lazar Miric to Industry Tactics!

DIY mogul, Carolyn Mark sits down with Friendly Rich, from White Rock, British Columbia (aka "Beige Gardens"!)! We catch her right before she heads out on another tour, to pick up some great tactics. She draws on her amazing book "How to be a Boozy Chanteuse" and shares so many great learnings from a rich career in music. Having worked with everybody from Neko Case to knowing the folks in No Means...

On this episode of Industry Tactics, Friendly Rich sits down with author Paul Myers to unpack his new beautiful new book John Candy: A Life in Comedy (House of Anansi Press). Such a delight to speak with Paul about all things Candy, including the time he may have (or may have not) met him, early days of SCTV and the legacy of John Candy in the city of Toronto. Enjoy this delightful chat!

We join songwriter, producer and community mobilizer, Joe Lapinski for a chat about his new recording, New Day and so much more. Joe builds community through every project he takes on, and this new recording is such a testament to that. Co-produced alongside Dave Clark, this new offering from Joe is such a great reflection of a very special career in music. Dig in to this incredible new collection...

Today, we honour the late Bill Exley (Nihilist Spasm Band) on this episode, with special guest Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten, hackedepicciotto, and more). Hacke links his incredible life in music to his early connections with the Nihilist Spasm Band and Canada, through the renowned Electric Eclectics Festival. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Bill Exley, whose resounding impact...